[tail.gate] n (1868) 1: a board or gate at the rear of a vehicle that can be removed or let down (as for loading)
2. [fr. the custom of seating trombonists at the rear of trucks carrying jazz bands in parades]: a jazz trombone style marked by much use of slides to and from long sustained tones
[2]tailgate vb tail.gat.ed ; tail.gat.ing vi (1949) 1: to drive dangerously close behind another vehicle
2: to hold a tailgate picnic ~ vt: to drive dangerously close behind -- tail.gat.er n [3]tailgate adj (1965): relating to or being a picnic set up on the tailgate esp. of a station wagon